She zeroed in on her 16-year-old son, Michael -- who was wearing all black and a mask that covered most of his face -- after he locked eyes with her, she told CBS News in her first interview since making headlines.

"He gave me eye contact," Graham said. "And at that point, you know, not even thinking about cameras or anything like that."

The heroics were commended late Monday by Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, who urged parents to rip their rioting children off the streets.

"If you saw on one scene, you had one mother who grabbed her child who had a hood on his head and she started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed," Batts told reporters. "I wish I had more parents that took charge of their kids out there tonight."

Baltimore mother Toya Graham said her teen son, Michael, is her only son and her "everything." (Facebook)

Graham is seen slapping the teen three times on the side of his head as she attempts to tear the mask off his face.

"Take that motherf-----g mask off! Take it off!" she shouts, chasing him down as he tries to flee. "You gonna be out here doing this dumb s--t."